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Today I try to engage nurses with my research findings regarding bed rest after lumber puncture.I am aware that this might not be the most riveting of conversational openings, but I am still quite disappointed with the result.Some of nurses I speak to are not at all sure why they ask patients to lie down after their procedure, whilst others reply that they think it is something to do with getting headaches, but are unable to give any more details.I wonder who is dictating this care plan, and am told that it’s just what everyone does, and they expect it is documented in some procedure somewhere.I am assured that it will be the consultant who will have ultimately specified the requirement.Several nurses admit that they do not know much about evidence based practice, and would not know how to go about finding relevant evidence.I am left with the impression that nurses are not expected to question practice; our role is to carry out procedure and process as laid down by the greater system over which we seem to have little influence.I can see the logic in this.If every nurse were to develop their own protocols, then the standard of care delivered would be even more of a lottery than it is now.It makes sense that there are proper pathways for incorporating relevant evidence into practice.Perhaps I need to need to find out more about how this process operates.